Water-closet flushing apparatus.



Patented Aug. I3. I90l.

nu. 680,459. s. H. MILLER.

WATER CLUSET FLUSHIG APPARATUS.

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V No. 680,459. Patented Aug. I3, |90l.

V(a.V Hf MILLER.

WATER/CLSET FLUSHING APPARATUS.

(Apl'aliction med nm. 2.a. 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

NITED STATES' GEORGE Il. MILLER, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

WA'TER-CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFIGATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,459, dated August13, 1901.-

Application filed March 26, 1900. Serial No. 10,304. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it Hita/y concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MILLER, a citizenof the UnitedStates,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in FlushingWater-Closets; and I do hereby declare that the following specilication,taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part ofthe same, is a clear, true, and complete description' of my invention,which relates to a device for the direct flushing of water-closets, bywhich I attain an improved iiushing effect over the ordinary elevatedtank through the direct pressure of the main, by which the bowl of awater-closet is thoroughly flushed or cleaned.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofapparatus for the A"above purpose which shall possess superioradvantages with respect to efficiency in use.

My invention consists in the novel construction and combination of partswhereby is obtained an automatically-controlled direct flush to thebowl, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectionof a small pressure-tank constructed in accordance with my invention,showing the parts of the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the same. Fig. 3 shows a portion of the tank through ahorizontal section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of therelease-valve. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail sections ofV thecylinder and admission-valve. Fig. 7 is a detailed horizontal section ofthe same. Fig. 8 is an elevation and part section of the stopper orushing valve with piston attached. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectionof the connecting air-valve.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a small closedpressuretank constructed in manner and consisting of two separatecompartments 2 and 3, having a dividing partition separating thewatercompartment from the chamber in which the compressed air isconfined, the tank being of the capacity of about six hundred cubicinches and approximately rectangular or of any suitable shape and size.The tank is calculated to be placed directly above and .just back of thecloset-bowl or is adapted to ing said opening.

be secreted in the wall back of same and directly connected thereto. Thelower or bottom side of the tank is formed with an opening 4,communicating and connected with the flush of the bowl, with a stopper5, adapted to act as a release-valve for opening and clos- Located insaid tank is a vertical cylinder 6, situated over and above theflush-opening 4 and attached thereto and extending upward about one-halfthe height of the tank, with the upper end closed and provided with twoslotted openings near the lower end 7. Located in said cylinder is avertically-movable stopper 5, coinciding with the flush-opening 4,having a piston 8 attached to the upper end thereof, dividing thecylinder into two compartments 9 and 10.

The numeral 11 designates a valve-casing provided with port-openings 12and 13, com'- municating, respectively, with the expanding chambers andabove and below the piston'. Located in said casing are two alternatingsupply-valves 14 and 15, connected to a pivoted rocking level-adapted toalternately open and close said ports, which communicate with thecylinder-compartments 9 and 10. Connecti ed with said valve-casing isthe main or direct supply-pipe 16. The admission of water under pressurefrom said main through the valveport 12 serves to expand the compartment9, thereby causing the piston 8 to rise, and with it the stopper 5, fromthe opening 4, and in like manner by admitting water throughtheport-opening 13 into the compartment 10 by means of closing valve 14 andopening valve 15 will cause the piston S to lower, and with it thestopper 5, acting as a valve for closing the opening 4 by the force ofthe direct pressure of the water from the main, the valves 14 and 15being adapted to alternately open and close the ports 12 and 13 'bymeans of a ioat 17,having the arm 1S pivoted to abracket 19, Aconnectedto the valve-casing 1l. The numeral 2O is an oscillating weight, with anarm 21 also pivoted to said bracket. This weighted arm is pivoted to alink 22, being pivotally connected with the crank 23,secured to theshaft, to which is attached the rocking lever of valves 14 and 15, thearm of the said ICO weight being linked to the valves, and having lugs24 and 25, corresponding and coinciding with the lugs in the arm of thefloat, said lugs being adapted Yto come in contact and oscillate theweight by reason ot' the :float elevating and lowering, causing theweight to be alternately carried over its center of gravity and allowedto drop, operating the valves 14 and l5, and thereby affording quickaction in i opening and closing the admission-ports 12` and 13. Theby-pass chambers 26 in the cylinder 6 are adapted to communicateloetween L the flush-opening et and the expanding compartment 9and port 12 for the free passageV of water direct -f-rom the main intothe howl 1 during the process of iiushing.

The valve-casing 27 of the release-valve 28 is connected with the pipe29, attached t o the upper end Vof the cylinder 6 and com-muni-E cati ngw-ith t-he upper com partmen-t 10 of said cylinder, 4the pipe 30beingcon-nected to said 'valve-casing and communicating with theflush-opening 4.

The shaft 3l, attached to valve 28 and inclosed -withinfthe valve-casing27 ,extends through the tank and with an' eccentric attachment to thecrank 32, hand-wheel,

or other means for open-ing and operating-the Numeral 33-is a coiledspring-attached tothe g shaft 3l, being the means of making the Valve2Sself-c-losing immediatelyaftert-he crank 32 is released by theoperator.

VThe float air-valve 34 is adapted as ameans for communication between4the Water andi com-pressed-aircompartments 2 and 3,and said valvecloses olf vby means of a `float v35 wit-hin vthe `casi-ng 3G. f-n'll ofwater, or nearly so, the water will enter the valve-casing -36-'by ltheWay-of the-tube 37 and raise the ioat 35,*causing the Valve 3e 'toclose.

wWhen the compartment 2 is NVhen the com par-tinent '2 is Ylled 3 Iwillexert a pressure of, say, twenty-three pounds. This -relative pressurein the two compartments may, 'however,be varied Within spirit of'myinvention. When the water from compartment 2 is released in iiushing thebo'wl, the superim'lpressure of the air in compartment 3 unseats theValve 3lC and forces the water outof cup 36. It is to be noted that 'thevalve 14 does not close tightly, and

'certain limits without departing from the` the opening is sufficient tomerely check the iiow of water from the main and to insure a regulatedingress. The opening to tube 37 may be of any desired height, so as toad-y mit of the air-space in upper part ot compartment 2 to be varied insize for the purpose 4of creating a greater or less force `to the ldischarge -of the water'out of compartment 2 at 'the starting of theflush, this air-spacebeing subjected to a compression in volume -inproportion to the pressure upon the main and therefore has a greaterexpanding force in proportion to its volume than the air contained incompartment 3, the object being to control the force required fordifferent makes of closet-bowls under Vthe varying pressures of themain.

The operation for flushing will now be as follows: Referring now to Fig.1, the operator will start the ush by turning the crank 32, which bymeans of the shaft opens the valve 28, making a `free communicationbetween the flush-opening 4 and the compartment 10 of the cylinder 6,which Vact serves to release the pressure in said compartment and causethe l`lower compartment 9, the same being likewise und-er pressure from-thedi rect main, to expaudand raise the lpiston. Said piston'bein gconne ct-ed 4with the stop per 5 will cause the lstopper to rise fromthe flush-opening 4. This completes ith-e operation -for starting theflush. The Water of Athe main is new admitted Jrom the port 12 under thedirect pressure through the compartment 9 and by means of theby-passchambers 2G -dischargdirectlyjnto the Vflush-opening et -o`f thetank and into the bowl. The'water in the "ta-nk vbeing underthe-pressure of the air coni fined in theeompressed-a-ir `compartment 3will at the same time be lforced. out of the tank through 'the slottedopenings 7, engagling with the Water-of thevd'irect pressure anddischarging ltherewith-into the Hush-openi ng, and by this contact anamefple, rapid, thorough, and funiliorm flush israttained. As the ywaterAis thus escaping -from 'the tank the level thereof will of cou-rsefall-and 'the ioat -17 Will fall accordingly. As the float falls `thelfug 24-o`f the arm carrying the oat will engage with a coinciding lugin the arm of lthe oscillating Weight 20, causing the Weight Vto becarried lover its center of gravity, whereby 4it is overbalanced andallowed by its Weight to drop. The arm of the weight 'bei-n g Al inkedto the rocking leverrof 'the valves 14 and l5 acts as a means of closingthe port 12 and opening port 13. The Water now -enter-ing thecompartment 10 through said port will cause same toexpand, forcing downthe piston S and rwith it the stopper 5, closing the Hush-opening 4. TheHush being now completed andthe tank closed Will again refill with'Water through the port 12, which is adapted to be leftslightly open forthe admission of water for the refilling ofthe tank through the slottedopenings 7. While the tank is thus slowly retillingthe air contained insaid tank Will be forced into the air-oompartment 3, through the valve34, communieating between the two compartments. As soon as theWaterreaches a point near the top of said compartment on a level withthe open upper end of'tvurbe 37, said tube communicating withY thebottom of the loat air- `valve casing 36, Water will be admitted throughthe tube into the valve-casing, causing the loat 35 to elevate andclosing the IOC IIO

valve 34. Said float being suitably constructed of a light material theconfined air within the compressed-air chamber 3 will be under apressure in proportion to the size of said air-compartment to the totalcapacity of the tank. The air-compartment being sepa rated from thewater-compartment of the tank, the valve communicating the same isadapted to regulate and maintain a given and uniform pressure, which isapplied as a medium of force for expelling the water out of the tank andinto the -iiush-opening, insuring at all times a regular, even, anduniform flush irrespective of the varying and irregular pressures towhich the source of water-supply from the main may be subjected.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is-- l. In awater-closet flushing mechanism, the combination with the flush-tankformed with a flush-opening and the plug for opening and closing saidopening, of the cylinder located in said tank above and coincident withthe flush-opening and connected directly with the main and the pistonlocated in said cylinder for raising said plug and admitting water underdirect pressure from the main into said cylinder from whence it willescape and engage or come'in contact with the Water of the tank in,proximity to said opening and be discharged therewith through saidopening.

2. A iinshing apparatus comprising a tank with water-compartmentnormally in direct communication with the water-supply main, theflush-opening formed with an internal cylinder located directly over andattached to said opening, the upper end of the cylinder closed havingslotted openings near the lower end for the escape of water from thetank into the flush-opening, the by-pass chambers'on opposite sidesthrough which the water from the main is dischargedinto theflush-opening of said tank, the vertically-movable stopper or valvecoinciding with the said flush-opening located within said cylinder, thepiston secured to the upper end thereof dividing the cylinder intoexpanding compartments, of means for alternately admitting Water fromthe main into the expanding compartments of said cylinder to open andclose the iinshopening and the water from the main discharging togetherwith the water of the tank through the Hush-opening, substantially asdescribed.`

3. A iiushing apparatus comprisinga pressure-tank with water-compartmentnormally in direct communication with the water-main, and a separateaircompartment, the means forseparatingthesaid compartments by anairvalve connecting said Water and air compartments, a tube and a floatin said air-valve adapted to close the communication between saidcompartments by the rise of water in the water-compartment and enteringsaid tube, raising the float and closing the valve and to be opened byreason of the superior pressure in the water-compartment 2 beingreleased during the flushing operation, the flush-opening and expandingcylinder with plug and pistons for discharging water from tank and maindirectlyinto and through theilnsh-opcning, substantially as described.

4. A direct-pressure Iiushin r mechanism comprising a water-tank withseparated aircompartments, the Water-compartment normally in directconnection with the Watersnpply, the air-Valve connecting saidcompartments with iioat and inlet-tube to said valve, to lcontrol theexpanding force to the water discharging from the tank at the start ofthe flushing operation, and means for releasing the pressure anddischarging the water from the main and water-compartment into theflush-opening, and unseating the airvalve between said compartments byreason of the greater pressure in the air-compartment 3 forcing open thesaid valve, substantially as described. A

5. The combination of the direct-pressure and flushl tank, for flushingwater-closets, formed With separate compartments, with the lioat airvalve between said compartments, and iinsh-opening, the cylinderlocatedin said tank closed at the upper end, with slotted openings near thelower end, the bypass chambers on opposite sides of said cylinder, thepiston and stopper Within said cylinder forming expanding compartments,the oscillating weight and float-ball, the alternating valves connectedto said weight and ball for operating said valve to admit Wateralternately from the main into the cylinder-compartments expanding thepiston for elevating and automatically lowering the stopper, opening andclosing the Hush-openings, of means for starting the flush and releasingthe pressnre on the piston in the upper cylinder-compartment to raisethe stopper and opening the flushing-valve, substantially as described.

6. In a iiushing-tank mechanism for ushing Water-closets, by directpressure of the main, of the character described, with separatecompartments and float air-valve between them, the cylinder and stopperwith piston in the expanding compartments, means to admit Water from themain, a cylinder-Valve, the by pass chambers on opposite sides of saidvalve through which the water of the main is dis charged with the waterof the tank into the Hush-opening in said tank, the alternating valvesWith oscillating weight and float, the self-closin g release-valve andpi pe from same to upper end of cylinder and Waste-pipe at; tachedconnecting the upper expanding compartment of cylinder withflush-openings, of means for operating said valve to start the Hush,substantially as set forth.

7. In a direct-flushing mechanism for the flusl: ing of water-closets,the combination of the tank of separate compartments formed with aHush-opening and cylinder attached to said opening having slottedopenings at the lower end and closed at the upper end, and

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valve releasing the pressure inupper expanding compartment of thecylinder, elevating the stopper and starting the operation of flushingthe closet-bowl, the floated air-valve and casing communicating betweenthe Water and air compartments of the tank, substantially as set forthand described.

Bloomington, Illinois, March 17, 1900.

GEORGE H. MILLER.

Witnesses:

DAVID J. LoUDoN, FRANK WILL.

